4G LTE is Faster on HTC Thunderbolt Than Droid Charge on Verizon?

Though both the HTC Thunderbolt and the Samsung Droid Charge both utilize the same network, a new downlink and uplink speed benchmark released by Root Metrics show that not all devices are created equally. Testing both device’s download and upload speeds in Seattle, Washington, Root Metrics finds that on Verizon’s 4G LTE mobile broadband network, the HTC Thunderbolt outperforms the Samsung Droid Charge.

The report says that the HTC Thunderbolt outperforms the Droid Charge 80 percent of the time with average download speeds of 16.7 Mbps; the Droid Charge only got 11.4 Mbps. Both speeds are plenty faster than most rival networks.

The Droid Charge did better in other areas, such as battery life and for text messages.

While the Charge and Thunderbolt–and also the LG Revolution–all have their own pros and cons, I am not sure that network speed alone will make or break it for any of these devices. Beyond a certain speed threshold, anything above that threshold will most likely not make users much more happier by the law of diminishing marginal utility. Beyond a threshold–say 10 Mbps–users will look at other factors as well and will consider those variables into their purchasing decision, such as battery life, user experience, build quality and finish, and ease of use. Some of these variables–like design and ease of use–may be personal as it would vary from person to person while others are measurable.

For now, as first-generation devices, the LG Revolution, HTC Thunderbolt, and Droid Charge all offer great performances with minor differences. If you’re considering network speed, any of these three will be more than capable of delivering. Beyond that, I’d suggest walking into a local retailer and spending some time with each handset to see which you like and what fits your needs as the two may not always be mutually exclusive.